The late Gothic manner in which this sculpture is carved is called the "hard style."
What is hard or sharp about it?The sharp, angular folds of Catherine's clothing.

This sculpture functioned as part of an altarpiece, made to educate the illiterate and to inspire devotion. Knowing this,
how big do you think it is? Explain. In order for people to see this on an altar, it would have to be large. Find an object or
person of similar size-63 inches.
How might the way it was used have influenced its size?Such statues had to be quite large to be seen by the worshippers.

Think

Catherine of Alexandria was renowned for her beauty. Do you think the woman represented in this sculpture is beautiful?
Why or why not? What is considered beautiful changes over time and is different for each person. Saint Catherine's facial features are
typical of German and Austrian Gothic standards of beauty. If you were to carve a sculpture of a beautiful person, would it look
different than Saint Catherine? Would any of the features be like Saint Catherine's?

Although it is not apparent in the image, the sculptor who carved Saint Catherine hollowed out the sculpture from the back and left
the back open and unfinished.
Why?This sculpture was not meant to be viewed from all sides, but rather set against a wall on an altar; the viewer wouldn't see the back. Also, a hollow sculpture is lighter in weight, easier to move, and less likely to crack.

Even though the story of Catherine tells us she died at the hands of Maxentius, Europeans during the Middle Ages considered her
triumphant.
Why?Catherine represented the virtue of defending one's beliefs, even in the face of death. Her reward for her bravery, according to Christian mythology, was a place in the kingdom of heaven.